Hillary Clinton and the race card

Did she, or did she not, play the "race card?"

That's the question being hashed over in much of political Washington concerning comments Hillary Clinton made to USA Today in making her case for soldiering on in her bid to draw to an inside straight and overtake Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race.

Here's the passage swirling the discussion:

" 'I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,' she said in an interview with USA Today. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article 'that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states (those voting in Tuesday's Indiana and North Carolina primaries) who had not completed college were supporting me.' "

"There's a pattern emerging here," she said.

Her defenders scoffed at the notion that she was sowing divisiveness, saying she was merely stating the obvious and that she resisted any mention of the almost monolithic support from blacks that has been central to Obama's successes.

Clinton herself, the article says later, "rejected any idea ...

... that her emphasis on white voters could be interpreted as racially divisive. 'These are the people you have to win if you're a Democrat in sufficient numbers to actually win the election. Everybody knows that.' ''

Detractors argued that she was taking an obvious step to casting herself as the "white" candidate.

Longtime Democratic operative Bob Shrum, who led John Kerry's unsuccessful 2004 presidential campaign, said that party leaders -- including convention superdelegates -- fear that Clinton may be adopting a strategy that unnecessarily fuels antagonisms within party ranks.

The result, he added, could be a political environment "in which Democrats lose the unlosable election."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[robinia]

Whether or not she played the race card, it is very sad to end her journey like this. I mean it was a fierce battle as I've ever seen a campaign to be. May both candidates be congratulated for their patience and longevity during the battle.

Mrs. Clinton, if you weren't such a conniving, two-faced bitch, with a husband to match, perhaps people would have stuck by you! Goodbye-girl!

Mr. Obama, a hearty congratulations. However, if you don't watch it, your wife could be the black version of Hillary. Maybe you've been crowned as the better choice simply because people haven't gotten to know your wife yet. Welcome to the lion's den.

wow, can't wait for the battle for November.

Tootles!

[Tallahassee]

If the Dems lose this election in November, it's because they nominated Obama as our candidate. To call the Clintons and their supporters racists, only spurs our resolve to sit out this election if Obama is the nominee. You political pundits and Obama supporters are idiots.

[mona]

When was pointing out the obvious divisive? Obama is getting all the black vote by 80 - 90% margin and Hillary is getting more of the white vote than Obama. Hillary why don't you just call them all blue voters.....and we can all just be smurfs? For the Obama voters, smurfs is a cartoon back in the 80's. LOL Whatevers.....everyone I am sure especially the Obama camp and their media lovers will pull the race card, when really she has not stated something that everyone doesn't already know and recognize.

PRESIDENT HILLARY 08

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Hey any of you republicans want a slightly used presidential candidate? she claims to have high miles, but she just doesn't get anywhere. She claims to be the answer to your economic woes, but she has greater economic woes than you. She claims to be able to keep you healthy and fit, but she suffers from sleep deprivation and delusions.
She admires the rules recognized by your party, but she has trouble abiding by rules in general. She is a nasty little scrapper, but she seems to enjoy biting the hand feeding her.
The fact is we just have no place for her, maybe you have a pasture or something she could retire to.

[Kate]

Hillary's true colors: apparently democratic voters really don't care about universal health care, nor about getting out of Iraq, nor about maintaining the Constitution. No, she feels the ONLY important thing is her color. This is pandering to one group of voters (the least educated and informed ones) and slighting another (hard working people of color) This is the final straw. Howard Dean, beware. The party may split over this, or it will lose a massive number of voters for many years to come.

[Larry]

Wow! Hmmmmmmm.

What can really be at the root of this destructive Clinton campaign?

Is she really trying to ruin it with whites for Obama in an effort to sabotage his campaign? If not Hillary, then McCain?

Today I read that a major Democratic fundraiser is threatening Nancy Pelosi with going over to McCain if Pelosi doesn't manage the rest of this campaign to Hillary's benefit.

Is this really about what is good for Israel?

Is there any other lobby group/interest that is so ruthless and uncompromising as AIPAC?

[Deanna from New Mexico]

It makes me very sad to think our country still is not ready to nominate and vote for a black man. I, for the first time, understand our forefather's attitude toward the proletariat. The un-educated just don't get it. The only possibility to change Washington is with Obama. He can't do it alone, he needs us, the American People.

[samantha]

Look, the racial voting divide did not become pronounced until the Clinton's "played the race card" the first time in South Carolina (that is, through former President Clinton). Also remember that Obama's rise began in Iowa, a very hegemonically white state.

[Christopher Xaphakdy]

As Sen. Clinton has articulated her case as being a stronger candidate, why hasn't she been able to prove the mathematical numbers as Sen. Obama has factually earned. I think what the voters are convincingly looking for are the objective factual numbers, not the subjective arguments.

Cheer Sen. Obama 08

[otto portmann]

people actually believe these people... that astounds me

[Mc Pain]

Her comments are no different than Mc Pain calling Obama a black radical...lol....What is funny to me is how everyone put so much emphasis on if Obama wins, he will lose because he can't get the white blue collar voters, nobody even mentioned how the blacks hate the Clintons now. It would be just as impossible for Hillary to win without the black votes...

When will the media hurry and break the story of the prostitute that was just murdered (not a suicide), and how she was going to incriminate Mc Cain as one of her clients...? Let's blow the lid off this thing....oh we're waiting for September..okay good timing

[Josh N.]

She's being attacked for the same reason rev. Wright was being attacked: SHE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.

Let's faceit, Obama's biggest problem is he has a problem connecting to stupid people and poor people. Sorry but "uneducated voter" is just a nice way of saying moron who cant think critically and has to work at a steelmill because he's too stupid to get a real job and blames all his problems on affirmative action and immigrants.

Obama, because of his race and bitter old people will have a problem in the general. Intelligent people will only get you so far. You have to get the votes of stupid people (poor whites) and airhead women (security moms & soccer moms)

Obama is facing an uphill battle. I support him but I'm also realistic. Hillary did nothing but speak the truth. I think they'll have a hard time without each other on the ticket.

[Rich]

Ever since Hillary said on 60 Minutes "not that I know" when asked if she thought Obama was a Muslim, I have wanted to vomit every time I see her. Women voters must realize that if Hillary were elected President she would poison the Presidency against women for a thousand years. She is a lying, conniving, politician of the old school who needs to do at least one honorable thing this campaign season: Quit.

[observer]

What a stupid article!

I'm no big fan of Mrs. Clinton, but when any candidate simply repeats what every commentator on TV is saying, how can she be racist and they're not? She is not attacking anyone's race, she's simply saying that any successful Democratic presidential candidate MUST will white working class votes. She happens to be right, as Senator Obama will find out in North Carolina in November...and many other states.

[KS2 Problema]

There's certainly nothing new here.

Clinton, her team, and particularly her husband, the former president, have been playing a racial triangulation strategy since they realized their "inevitability" had evaporated.

The only thing I find surprising is that it's candidate Clinton, herself, making the explicit racial exclusion strategy -- and that so far there has been no firestorm over her appositive juxtaposition: "hard-working Americans, white Americans."

The world-weary and jaded among us might still be surprised that Clinton's racist pandering would become so blatant and yet draw so little comment.

[Troy]

The Clintons have defecated on whatever goodwill they engendered among a good portion of the electorate who supported them in the previous decade.

How embarrassing to see her campaign repeatedly resort to racism and religious bigotry to pull more votes and delegates her way. Also, what a sore loser to drag this thing on for longer than what it needs to. Anyone with a superior understanding of American politics and the electoral process knows that Obama essentially wrapped up the nomination at the end of February.

No amount of spin can undo what further damage she's done to her already polarizing image. For the love of Christ, let it go Hillary.

[vote4thebest]

Why do people get accused 'racists' when they are speaking the truth? why is it that it is ok for 91% of the Blacks to vote for an AA and these Blacks are not called racists? If it is ok for the blacks, then it should also be ok for 91% of non-black to vote for the non-black candidate. Even his campaign's manager has used the term 'white vote' before, yet it is not ok for Clinton to use? Let’s play by the same rule and Obama and his supporters should stop the double talk.
Obama’s win in NC proves beyond any doubt that he is a racially-based candidate. He can’t win the general election with just the blacks and the young. It would be another ‘Tsongas’ election! Clinton’s win in Indiana, by a slim margin, also raises the big question why Obama lost a state that he is supposed to win!
The media continues to be anti-Clinton. Her win should be presented in the proper context of the quality of each of these candidates’ electability!

[Rob MacKay]

Of course Hillary is the "white" candidate and Obama is the "black" candidate. The question is who can cross those lines. Obama is doing a pretty good job of it. Hillary doesn't stand a chance. I used to really like Hillary. But now? For goodness sake my fellow Democrats, stick a fork in Hillary. She is done.

[Marilyn]

The Clintons have done more for the black community over the past years than anyone else. It is very obvious that Obama is where he is today because of the black voters (not a racist comment but a fact). In my opinion, the so-called race card was played by the Obama camp very early on - everytime Bill opened his mouth it was considered racist. In this way, the black population was able to justify dumping Hillary without seeming to support Obama simply because he is black. I am a lifelong Democrat who will not vote for Obama because of those behind the scenes tactics and, no, I won't vote for McCain either.

[Dean]

The reasons these comments are racist is because she very smoothly and implicitly states that African Americans aren't hard working!!

" 'Clinton cited an Associated Press article 'that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states (those voting in Tuesday's Indiana and North Carolina primaries) who had not completed college were supporting me.' "

SO AFRICAN AMERICANS AREN'T HARDWORKING???

[Philippa]

GObama! he prevailed despite the dirt flung at him over the past 2 mths.If Clinton could not put him away with all the negative press he got over the past 2 months,i don't know what else will.
Time for her to concede already!

[haybarn]

It's not that everyone is a racist. It's that we have had the label-based "factual" analysis drilled into our vocabulary day after day. Examples?:

- we are told over and over what % of the black vote one candidate gets, but never hear what % of the white vote another gets.
- the only blue collar workers ever mentioned are the white ones, as if black blue collar workers don't exist, aren't news or don't count.
- there is a presumption or implication that university-educated people are white, as are young university students.

The delivery of this selective vocabulary but mind-biasing data is not based on deep-seated hatred of any group, but it does feed the culture of how we think and talk as a nation. The media pushes this "news" into everyone's brain cells without even stopping to think about how it keeps "racism" alive.

[chet mccabe]

How much nastier can the campaign get. Only Hillary can stop it by doing the RIGHT thing now and gracefully exit. She has created a mistrust, cheap image which is appropriate for she and Bill, who has dragged her down to this level. Let's get on with rebuilding ther Democrat profile

[J Marshall]

yes, obama is getting the black vote, but the black vote alone would not nearly be enough for obama to win all of the primaries that he has one. do the math

[chris]

It's really sad that a Wellsley and Yale graduate who has worked so much for positive causes in this country wants to be President so bad that she would pander to the lowest character trits in voters and somehow wear it as a badge of honor that her support comes from uneducated, poor white thrash.

[Arthur Oates]

Funny how Hillary will say or do anything as she is not used to losing. Her arrogance and assuming the nomination was hers alone led to her downfall.

Wake up people. Obama has more delegates and more votes PERIOD. You can't deny facts.

[El rey]

Blacks, blue collars, white collars, working, hard working,
not completed college working (ignorants, illitrates, idiots??) Oh, pour America, we are still racist.

[Anne]

Tallahassee, I see you were raised to think you are better than others much like Hillary, calling Obama's supporters idiots is exactly why Hillary will never see the White House again. You people think you are entitled to the White House. This is not a monarchy. We elect our Presidents and the last time I checked, Hillary is behind in every mathematical scenario - if she is so great, why can't she beat the bi-racial man? Tell me that? Why can't she run a campaign? Why did she have to loan her campaign 11.425 million dollars?

Seems you are backing the losing horse, or metaphorically, as in the Kentucky Derby.... Eight Belles came in second and had to be put down.

[Sunny Florida]

Give me a break. The only reason "we Democrats" lose the unloseable election is because we may nominate an inexperienced, elitist, dare-I-say-racist neophyte politician whose supporters play the race card themselves whenever someone states the facts, disagrees or just dislikes their candidate. How could we NOT like someone who claims to be a unifier, then his campaign pulls some pretty nasty voting day aggressiveness in the caucus states, or when he sits for years listening to the rants of a loonybin, buys land from a known corrupt political heavyweight, then disparages his opponent in ads and in speeches (do we mention the finger at a speech, the song about "the bitch"), claiming "nondivisive-politics-am-I", and turns aghast when her supporters won't vote for him in November and "fall in line" like good little sheep? Puh-lease. I wouldn't vote for this guy for President of my Homeowner's Association, never mind for the President of the US. Never. Hillary needs to run as an Independent and we can take the 14+ million votes to her, and be counted.

[Jody Dodd]

Hillary is talking about who voted for her. But, need we remind her this is the DEMOCRATIC nomination.. not the general election... Is she suggesting that these white DEMOCRATS will not support Obama? That indeed would be racist.. as racist as suggesting that the 90% of African Americans who voted for Obama would not vote for her because she is "white." She cannot have it both ways. Obama has pulled more numbers and delegates... She just needs to get over it and bow out gracefully and then urge her supporters to vote for the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama.

[john]

easy everybody. Hillary's comments are not particularly helpful to her, or the party, but they should not necessarily be viewed through the lens of race.

... the simple fact is Hillary is still running a campaign to win even though she cannot win.

... reality will sink in: money will dry up, super delegates will jump ship (hopefully not saying anything stupid about HRC), the media will focus more and more on the looming general election between Obama and McCain, Hillary will fade away.

Ultimately Hillary will have the say in how she goes out, a lonely (but hopefully dignified) one woman show playing to shrinking audiences a la Mike Huckabee. Or she could go out in the next few days with her head high.

In the end, Hillary deserves our respect, admiration, and thanks for helping to energize the party.

So thank you Hillary, we'll be counting on you to work for Obama in the general.

Obama 08.

[D. House]

No more than Obama is playing the race card. That knife cuts both ways.

[Anne]

Tallahassee, I see you were raised to think you are better than others much like Hillary, calling Obama's supporters idiots is exactly why Hillary will never see the White House again. You people think you are entitled to the White House. This is not a monarchy. We elect our Presidents and the last time I checked, Hillary is behind in every mathematical scenario - if she is so great, why can't she beat the bi-racial man? Tell me that? Why can't she run a campaign? Why did she have to loan her campaign 11.425 million dollars?

Seems you are backing the losing horse, or metaphorically, as in the Kentucky Derby.... Eight Belles came in second and had to be put down.

[Gaias Child]

Well I am a hard-working "white" American and I voted for Obama in my primary. I think Senator Clinton is just completely cunning and tactical to such an extent that she cannot see the big picture. The big picture is that she is the one doing harm to herself. She is the one who has alienated so many people who, like me, would have been her natural constiuency. She has done this by using the "old politics" of polarizing divisive below-belt assaults intended to show that she's tough!!! Well, sure, she's tough but like a playground bully tough and not like a true strength of authenticity, of inner wisdom. The fact that this ploy of divisive manipulation has a racial component doesn't really make it any different than all her other ploys this campaign. She's really vetting the guy to pieces. He seems to be doing okay.

[Tim]

AS A Black man I would NOT votefor HIllary or any white lying politician who keeps playing us, HOW YOU LIKE THAT?

[Former Clinton Fan]

I'm sorry. How is this not the race card? She has basically said that he can't win white votes, while in addition to being untrue, serves no purpose considering that he has won more states than her. I don't know if anyone has checked lately, but Iowa, the Dakotas, Colorado, Washington, Wisconsin and Virginia are states that are not often described as "black" states. Secondly, isn't it ironic that she first said that his race was an advantage through her surrogate, and now suddenly his race is a liability. While it is uncontravertible that many Americans will not vote for someone who doesn't look like them, that is fortunately the exception to the rule. For those saying that Obama is playing the race card, I challenge you to find one instance where he has done what she has done this whole election with respect to her gender- told people to vote for him because he could be the first black president. She is, quite simply, a despicable person who demeans the intelligence and goodness of most Americans. For all Hillary supporters, I implore you to search your conscience. Time and time again she talks about differences based on color, gender, etc., while he talks about commonalities. Please help this country move forward.

-A former Clinton fan

[Anonymous White Man]

Yes, white Americans are supporting Hillary but if you dig deeper into this statistic you find that it is low educated whites that support Hillary while Obama is getting the support of younger and more educated whites - like myself and all my friends - many of whom voted republican in the last election. My take is that many of the lower educated whites have some racial biases or are unable to see through the BS of Hillary - or perhaps a little of both.

[DEAN]

Any Democrat that "sits out" this election just because their candidate doesn't get the nomination is IGNORANT!! Regardless of what candidate you are for!

Also, those citing the polls that show only 45% of Hillary supporters would support Obama I have 2 words for you:
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE!!!

[3xAmazing]

Tallahassee, comments like yours just make me sad. Sit out an election?? Really?? All because your candidate will likely not receive the democratic nomination?? After all you've seen, you're willing to help hand the Republicans another 4 years because of that??

Its like watching a child throw a temper tantrum: "If you guys don't want to play by my rules, then I'll just take my ball and go home!"

Arn't there bigger things to worry about: the economy, Iraq, health care, education, the environment, etc etc etc. But all i hear from Hillary supporters is this same nonesense. That's the divisiveness right there.

Hil is just as stubborn as these people are. Its obvious she can't win, but she'll continue to sit in the race and promote these sorts of sentiments to the detriment of the Democratic Party and this country.

If the Dem's lose the election in November it'll be largely because of Hillary Clinton and close minded people like Tallahassee who are too shortsighted and stubborn to try and do what's right.

To Clinton supporters who WILL be voting this November: I, your children, and your country thank you.

[kristi]

I agree with many that Hillary is stating the obvious, which does not mean she is playing the race card.

More interestingly, when I have heard pundits and Obama supporters say he is more electable, I have yet to hear people say he is playing the gender card. Why is that?

Either way, Hillary or Obama, I look forward to the Democratic party pulling together and getting back in the White House.

[Sixtees]

Gosh, I liked Hillary - she was a nice sincere effervescent young woman before her fragile veneer cracked and her essential venal core leaked out. Too bad, she had this old coot fooled. I still bet that she will leave the race with grace, Pollyanna that I am. I wanted Richardson or Dodd. I am more comfortable with older experienced men but I am willing to give youth another chance. Our current president was young and unfortunately, did not learn on the job. He acted like a puppet on a string and when left to his own devices, was petulant and stubborn. Now can Obama impress my peer group sufficiently so they won't seek the familiar territory of experienced and McCain. Obama's window of opportunity will be short, the hill steep. All is unknown in May.

[J Labrusso]

In their private moments Hillary and Bill probably entertain themselves by seeing who can tell the biggest lie..."I never had sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky! Oh yeah, "Sinbad and I were under a barrage of sniper fire in Bosnia." What a pair of liars, I mean leaders.

[kjm]

Not sure if she played the race card but she is playing the same old card; if "they" didn't vote for her, then "they" are not important because ...(insert various reason or insert "only if..."). I don't think it maters who "they" are ("they" referring to an individual , a group or a State).

[elmerg]

So, Tallahassee, you are willing to give John McBush the presidency, to prolong the occupation of Iraq, to pick more Alito's to serve on the Supreme Court, to further shred the Bill of Rights and keep crooked Republicans in charge all because Rodham lost the primary?

[zadamaja]

HIlary is white, she cant get black votes boohoo.....
Obama cant get midwestern white votes he will never get them they are racist prick down there.

Hilary if black folks aint voting for you dont meant they are racisit they just trying to get a first black preseident.

I wish tupacs dream will come true and we will have a black president.

All black people who vote of hilary are traitors.

[lisa]

Iowa, Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Nebraska, N. Dakota, Idaho, etc, etc. all states with fewer than 5% Black population-- how the media and the Clintons love to spin things.

[Piter]

Far too many comments from Hillary supporters crying about how they will either sit it out or vote McCain because the Golden Girl didn't get the nomination.

Hey, sorry guys, that's what happens if you can't even run an effective campaign. What makes you all think she's qualified to run the country then?

If you can't properly staff your campaign, if you can't find a use for your superstar politico husband, if you can't raise money, if you can't account for threats to your cause on the horizon, if you can't "find your own voice" until 15 months into it, then you will not win. She can't win over the majority of the Dems, yet her argument is that only she can somehow take on McCain the GOP? Love that logic Hillz!

[Jim]

Hillary Clinton suggested Wednesday that "White Americans" are increasingly turning away from Barack Obama’s candidacy. Clinton cited an Associated Press poll "that found how Senator Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again.
Exit polls from Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina show Clinton won about 60 percent of the white vote in both states. That percentage is down from the Ohio primary on March 4, in which Clinton won upwards of 65 percent of the white vote. Meanwhile, Clinton garnered 63 percent of the white vote in Pennsylvania on April 22.
"There's a pattern emerging here," she said.
******
Yes, Senator Clinton, there is a pattern emerging. You and your team are spinning falsehoods. When did 60% become greater than 65% ???

A more accurate interpretation of the data (taken from a USA Today interview) would suggest that the white vote is actually trickling away from Senator Clinton over the past few weeks.
It should also be mentioned that ANY Democratic candidate MUST forge a coalition MUCH broader and more inclusive than working-class whites. In the long run, I believe Senator Obama is more likely to develop a broad coalition.

One more thing, Senator Clinton. Please stop referring to working class whites as “hard-working Americans”. There are many, many, many hard-working blacks, latinos, Asians, teachers, administrators, physicians,
computer programmers, and senators who might resent the suggestion that they are not “hard-working Americans”.

[susan]

HRC is clearly the candidate most qualified for both the general election and hence the presidency. BO is still very much an unknown and this really worries me, if in the event that he beats McCain in November. In fact it is very scary ... LIke Bush before him, he will be bulldozed or "led" by Washington power groups and hence steeer our nation down precarious paths. He is so liberal that we might even wind up being more socialistic than Russia or China ... Ouch... I will definitely be voting for McCain ...

[Steven]

Blue collar whites, young people and blacks are all crucial to a Democratic victory in November. Fact remains that Obama is drawing more voters, more dollar contributions and simply more excitement than Clinton. His campaign is positioned best to defeat McCain. It will be easier to convince the minority of Democrats who supported Clinton to vote for Obama than it will be to convince the majority who supported Obama to vote for Clinton. Clinton won't win if young people and blacks stay home in November. It's that simple. She would serve herself and her party better if she withdrew from the nomination now and dedicated herself to getting her supporters to vote for Obama, rather than continuing on a futile quest and poisoning the different factions of the Democratic party against each other. BTW, I support Edwards. I'll vote for Obama in November, but I won't vote for Clinton. America is not Rome and I am simply tired of the Clinton and Bush families. Both of them have helped to run this country into the ground. I want a complete break from these career politicians on both sides of the aisle.